We all get that sense of thrill, wonder, and maybe fear when our sci-fi heroes find a new planet. Scientists get that thrill for each of the planets, moons, and asteroids in our solar system. Now we know of thousands of planets around other stars that we can explore remotely. Scientists ask themselves: is this icy like Hoth or arid like Dune? Does it host pre-industrial civilization like the forest moon of Endor, or has it been decimated by war like Gallifrey? When NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope launches in 2021, it will help us explore worlds in our solar system and beyond, making us all sci-fi heroes.

In this talk, Dr. Meinke will take you on a journey through the plans planetary scientists have for observing geysers on Europa, finding rocky worlds at the outskirts of our solar system, and sniffing atmospheres of Earth-like planets in the TRAPPIST-1 system.